Cebu Service Learning Trip (Jan 2027)
Jacky Shum (sajackykshum@ust.hk)
Cebu is famous for its stunning ocean views and vibrant tourism, but there's another side to the story. Around 25 million Filipinos live in extreme poverty, and 7 million of them are struggling to survive in ultra-poverty. Many lack access to basic hygiene facilities and even life's necessities.
To take a step toward meaningful change and help address these needs, HKUST Connect is partnering with International Care Ministries (ICM)—a non-profit leveraging business and academic insights to transform ultra-poor families—to launch our first service-learning trip to Cebu, Philippines, in January 2027.
In this service learning trip, you will have the opportunity to join us in driving meaningful change in the ultra-poor communities in Cebu. Through these experiences, you will deepen your understanding of poverty, reflect on different life circumstances, strengthen your empathy, and be inspired to take future action to support underserved communities.
As a participant, you will:
- Participate in hands-on construction projects to improve living conditions for local communities
- Inspire Filipino children through engaging activities
- Visit local families and gain firsthand insights into the diverse living conditions and communities in Cebu
- Explore and appreciate Cebu's unique local culture through cultural activities
- Foster personal growth through service and reflection
If you're interested in joining the trip as a member of the Organizing Committee, please refer to this page for more details.
Join us for this impactful journey to be part of a powerful movement to spread kindness, raise awareness, and drive positive change. Apply Now!
Note 1:
To ensure the quality of service activities and to foster a positive team experience, students are expected to attend ALL pre-trip activities, including workshops and consultation meetings. Priority will be given to those who can commit to full attendance. Requests for absence due to academic course-related examinations will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The organizer reserves the right to terminate the participation of any student who fails to meet the above requirements, and the program fee will not be refunded.